The Invention Of Wings

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is a novel set in the deep South in the early nineteenth century and was inspired by true events. One of the main characters, Sarah Grimke, is one of the Grimke sisters who were the first female advocates of abolition and women's rights. The other main character is Hetty 'Handful' Grimke, a young slave who was given to Sarah on her eleventh birthday.

The book covers thirty five years with alternating chapters narrated by Sarah and Handful. Each woman was born in to different lives, yet they were both looking for a similar thing...freedom. They were both determined, had real strength of character and courage.

I enjoyed this book very much and it was beautifully written. I know many people raved about Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, but in my opinion, this far outdoes it. This is definitely a book I'd recommend you read if you get the chance.

I'd never heard of the Grimke Sisters before, and though the book is a work of fiction, it has inspired me to learn more about their real lives.

If you want to know what else I've been reading lately, you can find a list in the sidebar. This shows all the books I've read this year and there's also lists of the books I've read right back to 2012.